joewein.de LLC fighting spam and scams on the Internet

Try our spam filter! Free trial for 30 days

"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
• "Is that email a scam?" - Check it online here!
  
• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
  1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
• Support our efforts to stop scams!
  
• How to report 419 spam to us
• What can you do when you receive 419 spam
  
  
• Spam archive, Daily index
  

Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
• This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
  

Fraud email example:

From: "JOHNSON MIKE" <johnsonmike4@ig.com.br>
Date: Tue, 19 Aug 2008 04:42:29 +0200
Subject: CONTACT STATE INHERITANCE COMMITTEE


Dear Friend

This is to officially inform you that ATM card number: 3774 9856 7847 9006
worth Three Million Dollars ($3Million usd) has been credited in your favor
in bid to compensate you on your contract payment since you are next on our
inheritance file for the second part of this fiscal Year 2008. Your personal
identification is ATM- 7998. Contact the verification officer DR UMARU:(
inheritanceverification@live.fr) with the following for proper verification
and claim processing:

Full Name................
Delivery Address.........
Country..................
Occupation...............
Phone Number.............
Fax Number...............
Age......................
sex......................

NOTE:
You are also required to send to the verification officer/agent a means of
Identification which should be a scan copy of your Driver's License or
International Passport for proper verification and authentication.

Best Regards
Adame Mike

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam